Rope hitch

ABSTRACT

A rope hitch ( 1 ) to facilitate the tie down and/or tensioning of ropes ( 11 ) in various situations is provided with a cam locking system and a rope block ( 6 ). Ropes attached to the hitch can be tensioned and shortened with minimal effort.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to rope tensioners and hitches of the typewhich can be used to tie down, support or haul loads.

BACKGROUND ART

There are many currently available rope tensioning devices and hitchesfor tensioning ropes, load support and for hauling a range fromelaborate lever type devices to more simply constructed tensioners. Suchdevices are commonly used in the transportation and yachting fields andthe cost of these products varies.

Whilst most trade and transport industry workers are able to competentlysecure loads using devices and secure knotting techniques the generalpublic's ability to tie an adequate knot for the purpose of securing andtensioning ropes and loads is often somewhat limited. This can lead topotentially dangerous on-road situations as in busy traffic if a load orpart of a load is lost there is a high risk of an accident occurring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rope hitch whichis simple to use, which can be used for tensioning a rope, supporting orhauling a load and which relieves the pressures on tie down points.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of exampleonly.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a rope hitchcomprising a mounting plate, opposed cam plates mounted on a majorsurface of the mounting plate, a wedge fixed between the cam plates, anda rope block mounted on the major surface of the mounting plate in aposition adjacent to the cam plates and the wedge, the arrangement beingsuch that a rope can be secured in a passages created between adjacentedges of the wedge and the cam plates and passed over the block totension and lock same with respect to remote tie-down or fixture points.

The cam plates and wedge can each have two principal edges meeting at anacute angle.

The wedge can be mounted and slidable on a mounting pin extending fromthe major surface of the mounting plate.

Corners of the cam plates wedge and rope block can be chamfered.

The wedge can be provided with a elongated pin slot which allows it toslide on the mounting pin to widen or narrow the passages between thecam plates and wedge to cater for different sizes of rope.

The block may be in form of a rope pulley.

The edges of the wedge, cam plates and the block can be fluted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which,

FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan and perspective views of a hitch in accordancewith one possible embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the hitch of FIGS. 1 and 2 having a ropeengaged therewith, and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the hitches of the present invention in use forsecuring a load, and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the hitches of the present invention in use ina vehicle recovery situation.

With respect to the drawings the present invention provides a rope hitchgenerally indicated by arrow 1, the hitch comprising a mounting plate 2,opposed cam plates 3 mounted on one major surface 4 of the mountingplate 2, a wedge 5 fixed between the cam plates 3 and a rope block 6,mounted on the major surface 4 of the mounting plate 2 adjacent to thecam plates and wedge.

The cam plates 3 and wedge are provided with two principle edges 7meeting at an acute angle.

The wedge 5 is mounted to the mounting plate 2 by a pin 8 and is asliding fit on the pin by virtue of an elongate slot 9 in the wedge.This arrangement allows the passages 10 between the cam plates 3 and thewedge 5 to be narrowed or widened to accommodate different sized ropes.

The block 6 can be in the form of a semi-circular protrusion from themounting plate (FIGS. 1 and 2) or a pulley wheel (FIG. 3).

The edges of the cam plates 3, wedge 5 and block 6 can be fluted (notshown) to provide a rope channel and chamfered corners as indicated toassist with the translation of a rope.

FIG. 3 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which a rope generallyindicated by arrow 11 can be engaged with the hitch 1. Free ends 12 and13 of the rope 11 are secured to remote attachment points by making anappropriate ties. A portion 14 of the free end 12 of the rope 11 isplaced in the passages 10 and a further portion 15 looped around afixture such as a tie off rail of a vehicle and returned over the block6 and then end 13 is secured to a further remote tie position of avehicle.

To tension the rope end 13 can be loosened and then tensioned. When therope is loosened the wedge 5 marginally rotates in a anti-clockwisedirection and when the rope is tensioned after a partial clockwiserotation the apex end 16 of the wedge 5 engages and locks the rope.

FIG. 4 of the drawings illustrates the use of hitches to secure a loadon a box trailer 17. The hitch positions indicated are the mostconvenient. The encircled illustrations of the hitches 1 marked III showthe rope path described in relation to FIG. 3 with the ends of the ropebeing secured to the trailer tie down bar at 18.

FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrates how two hitches in series can be usedin a vehicle recovery situation. In this case free end 13 of the rope isused for primary leverage and a recovery can be made with respect to afixture such as tree 18, or another vehicle or fixture (not shown).

The present invention provides a rope hitch which because of itsinherent mechanical advantages allows a rope to be tensioned or a loadto be supported or moved with minimal effort and increased safety astension in the rope is largely centered on the hitch and not tie downpositions.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exampleonly and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions maybe made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rope hitch comprising a mounting plate, opposedcam plates mounted on a major surface of the mounting plate, a wedgefixed between the cam plates, and a rope block mounted on the majorsurface of the mounting plate in a position adjacent to the cam platesand the wedge the arrangement being such that a rope can be secured in apassages created between adjacent edges of the wedge and the cam platesand passed over the block to tension and lock same with respect toremote tie-down or fixture points.
 2. A rope hitch as claimed in claim 1wherein the cam plates and wedge each have two principal edges meetingat an acute angle.
 3. A rope hitch as claimed in claim 2 wherein thewedge is mounted and slidable on a mounting pin extending from the majorsurface of the mounting plate.
 4. A rope hitch as claimed in claim 1wherein corners of the wedge and rope block are chamfered.
 5. A ropehitch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the wedge is provided with anelongated pin slot which allows it to slide on the mounting pin to widenor narrow the passages between the cam plates and the wedge to cater fordifferent sizes of rope.
 6. A rope hitch as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe rope block is in the form of a rope pulley.